Bleaching and mortality are related but distinct outcomes. Prolonged or repeated stress can exhaust energy reserves and increase disease risk. Recovery can occur when surviving tissue regains symbiotic algae, but it is not guaranteed. Compare the short-stress and persistent-stress paths without treating the drawing as a reef forecast.
Water and oceans · Discover & try
Can a bleached coral still be alive?
Reading level 4 of 5 · FluentChange
Word help
Symbiosis
A close biological relationship between different organisms.
Bleaching
Loss of symbiotic algae or their pigments from coral tissue.
Mortality
Death, which is not identical to bleaching.
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Conceptual partnership and stress sequence; stage timing and recovery are not predictions for a real reef.
What to look for
- Distinguish algae loss from tissue death.
- Compare persistent stress with relief.
- Notice that progress is not a count of days.
Explain what you noticed
A different reef survey sees pale coral tissue but has not checked whether it is living. Which conclusion is justified?
Keep this idea: Bleaching is loss of symbiotic algae or their pigments; a bleached coral is vulnerable but not necessarily dead.
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